Newspaper List
Beatty Bullfrog Miner – Beatty, Nevada [was called the Bullfrog Miner during first two months of publication – not to be confused with the Bullfrog Miner, of Rhyolite, Nevada]
Inyo Independent – Independence, California
Inyo Register – Bishop, California
Rhyolite Herald – Rhyolite, Nevada

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Latest Entries Made: 08/05/2008

Independence, California

Note: Newspaper articles quoted will be formatted in Courier New font with white background to simulate newspaper formatting.

Note: The insertion of “[sic]” or “spelling incorrect,” denotes incorrect spelling directly quoted from the original newspaper. Other editorial mistakes are also denoted by notations inserted in brackets where applicable.

Newspaper Articles

1870

Inyo Independent, July 9, 1870
Summary: Infant son of P.A. Chalfant died. He was six months and eleven days old.

1873

Inyo Independent, July 19, 1873
“Court adjourned Friday afternoon on account of the death of Wm. F. Snelling, son of District Attorney Snelling. The young man’s age was 17 years.”

1899

Inyo Register, February 2, 1899
“FROM INDEPENDENCE."
“The disappearance of a young half breed Mexican and Indian named Chartez Arambula, some three months since, resulted in the arrest of Indian Mose at Camp Independence last Saturday, on the charge of murder. The young half breed was last seen with Mose at George’s Creek about the time of the fandango. A diligent search failed however in revealing any trace of the body, and as no evidence appeared against him Mose was discharged from custody Monday. Mose has served a term at Folsom for burglary and bears a bad reputation among his people.”

Inyo Register, February 2, 1899
Summary: Business cards posted for:
* N.H. Yandell. Attorney. Independence, California.
* A.M. Given. Sheriff and Tax Collector of Inyo County. Independence, California.
* George F. Willis. Undersheriff of Inyo County. Independence, California.

Inyo Register, January 12, 1899
"TABOOSE."
Summary: Edward McManus, a miner working the Lane property near Darwin, showed strong indication of insanity last week. J.J. Gunn and others secured him. He gashed his throat with a knife or a piece of tin, but without fatal results. He was brought to Independence, where he is being cared for.

1905

Inyo Register, January 26, 1905
"INDEPENDENCE ITEMS."
From the Inyo Independent
“The death of Levi Cartier, a brother of Henry and Phil Cartier, is reported.”

Inyo Register, February 2, 1905
"ANOTHER PIONEER GONE."
“Alvah K. Briggs died at the residence of T.F.A. Connelly Thursday night of last week, at the age of 58 years.
Few residents of the county were better known than "Al" Briggs. Coming here first in 1869 he was in business in Cerro Gordo, Independence, Darwin, and elsewhere for a number of years following. Departing for new fields, he made temporary abiding places in many camps, in California, Utah and Nevada, finally returning to Bishop toward the close of the '70's. He went into the merchandise business, soon afterward erecting the store building now occupied by Marks & Cohn. About 1883 he sold out, and tried farming for a while.
From here he went to Central America, remaining there about 18 months. Again his earlier location attracted him, and he returned to finish his life here. In latter years he has been engaged in various mining enterprises, which however failed to reward him as his efforts deserved. Three months ago he was brought in from Goldfield, suffering from a liver complaint, which terminated fatally.
Mr. Briggs had no relatives on this coast. A brother, H.C. Briggs, ex-Superior Judge of North Dakota, resides in Michigan; a nephew, Glenn F. Briggs, is in New York, and there are several other more distant relatives in Michigan. Though having no kindred at hand, many friends ministered to his every need or want during his long illness. The funeral occurred from the Academy chapel Saturday afternoon, and was largely attended.”

Inyo Register, February 9, 1905
"TABOOSE."
“Two Piutes at Camp Independence quarreled a long time ago, and one told the other that the latter's four children would be dead within a year. By some strange fate, the prediction came true; whereupon the bereaved parent set out to kill the one who had in his belief brought about the calamity. The result of the affair was that the dispenser of woe was shot in the face. The case is on trial in the Superior Court this week.”

Inyo Register, February 23, 1905
"ACQUITTED."
“The trial of the Indian George Symmes for shooting Poker Bill, at Independence, resulted in acquittal. The evidence showed that the shooting had been done, beyond dispute. Indian testimony established that Bill had promised Symmes that the latter's family would die within a year, and through causes of neglect by the parents, and by accidents, the prophecy was fulfilled. The Indians held Bill to be a 'coyote doctor' - that is, a medicine man who had lost three patients and thenceforth capable of exercising baleful influence. The belief of the bereaved father that his children had been killed by Bill's witchcraft was the only defense; it appears that the courts have held similar killings to be justifiable from the Indian standpoint, and it was so decided this time.”

1906

Inyo Independent, April 27, 1906
[Business card]
“Ben H. Yandell, Attorney at Law.
Independence, Inyo County, California.
Will practice in the Superior Court and U.S. Land Office.”

1907

Inyo Independent, March 1, 1907
"SUICIDE"
Summary: David A. Johnson committed suicide. He was in the employ of J.J. Gunn at the saloon, and he also killed himself at the saloon. He wrote two goodbye notes, one to his wife and one to Jack Gunn.

1908

Inyo Register, June 4, 1908
"ANOTHER PIONEER GONE: FRANK SHAW PASSED AWAY AT NOON TUESDAY.”
Summary: Early resident of Aurora, Nevada; Adobe Meadows and Independence, California.

Inyo Register, June 25, 1908
"THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO."
From the Inyo Independent, June 28, 1872
Summary: Four deserters from Camp Independence captured at Bishop Creek.

Inyo Register, July 23, 1908
"THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO."
From the Inyo Independent, July 20, 1872
Summary: Lulu Tibbetts fell into a bucket of hot waters at her home north of Independence and died the following day.

Inyo Register, July 30, 1908
"THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO"
From Inyo Independent, July 27, 1872.
“A man shot in a shooting scrap at Lida on July 3rd died in Camp Independence, after the amputation of his arm.”

Inyo Register, August 6, 1908
"THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO."
Summary: Death of Emma Tibbetts.

Inyo Register December 24, 1908
“With deep regret it was learned that Lester Callaway [sic] had died at Independence Tuesday night. He had been ill for some weeks with bronchial or lung troubles, but recent advices had been that he was on the way to recovery. He was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Callaway [sic], former residents here, more recently of Ballarat. He was a young man of stalwart and fine physique, and that he should be thus taken away, at the early age of 23, is a fresh demonstration of the uncertain tenor of existence. To his sorrowing parents, brothers and sister we tender sincere sympathy. Deceased was a member of the local lodge of the Fraternal Brotherhood, a large delegation of whose members went to Independence by coach last night to attend the funeral.”

Inyo Register, December 24, 1908
Summary: A man named Garten awaits trial on a charge for Grand Larceny. It is alleged that he tore down the old Eclipse Mill, located southeast of Independence, and shipped the iron to Reno. Mr. Garten profited $1100 for his efforts. The owner of the mill was in Randsburg at the time of Mr. Garten's removal operation.

Inyo Register, December 24, 1908
"OF DEATHS."
Summary: Lester Calloway died at Independence Tuesday night. Calloway was heavily involved in freighting activities at Skidoo.

1909

Inyo Register, January 7, 1909
Summary: Death of David Stbblefield, Inyo County pioneer, of Independence.

Inyo Register, January 28, 1909
Summary: Almrain B. Paul, a former Inyo County resident, is dead in San Francisco. He is known from his tenure at the Kearsarge Mines, near Independence.

Inyo Register, February 18, 1909
"GARTEN ACQUITTED"
Summary: Case involving man named Garten, accused of stealing the old quartz mill from the Eclipse Mine near Independence.

Inyo Register, February 18, 1909
"CAMP GOES UP IN SMOKE."
Summary: Aqueduct Camp #4, east of Independence, burned shortly after midnight. Burned property includes the old Hillyer buildings near the stage road. Another fire occurred Monday night in one of the tents. A man upsetting a stove while intoxicated. The man was arrested.

Inyo Register, March 25, 1909
"BILLY LAKE DEAD"
Summary: William J. Lake, better known as Billy, died at Independence at the age of 76-years old. Mr. Lake was a pioneer in the early days of the Inyo County. He was a resident of Kearsarge at the time of the destruction of that camp by an avalanche.

Inyo Register, April 1, 1909
"PIONEERS ARE GOING: JUDGE REED, MRS. SWEARINGEN AND OTHERS"
Summary: Mrs. Sarah Kelsey Swearingen died at Laurel Hill in Lake County, California. She was a pioneer resident of Inyo County, living in the southern mining camps, Independence and Bishop.

Inyo Register, April 15, 1909
"SHOTGUNS AND PIONEER LAWYERS"
Summary: Death of Judge Theron Reed in Siskiyou County, California. Judge Reed formerly lived and worked in Bridgeport, Benton, Aurora and Independence.

Inyo Register, April 15, 1909
Summary: At Fairfield, Solano County, California, April 1, 1909, Mrs. S.E. Walter has died. She was the mother of Charles Walter of Independence. She was a native of England. 83 years old and nine days.

Inyo Register, April 22, 1909
"BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: VIEWERS NAMED IN THE KEELER ROAD CONTEST"
Summary: Inyo County Board of Supervisors minutes for Thursday, April 8. H.D. Gill of Independence appeared under oath and made a complaint as to the violation of liquor ordinances by saloon keepers. He stated that in Darwin February 1909, he saw Henry Heitman, who is proprietor of a saloon, sell liquor to different persons who were intoxicated. At the saloon of George Mates at Keeler, he saw liquor sold to intoxicated men. Saloons of A.B. Elder, Bob Carrasco and Harry Reynolds at Lone Pine also sold liquor to intoxicated men; as well as the saloons of H. Leavy, Naylor & Maxwell, and C.H. Johnson in Independence.

Inyo Register, May 13, 1909
Business cards:
Walter A. Lamar, Attorney at Law. Independence.
Ben H. Yandell, Attorney, Independence.

Inyo Register, May 13, 1909
“THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO.”
Summary: The Independent offices has come into possession of a pair of field glasses by an Indian in the Gold Mountain, Nevada area. The glasses were supposed to be those of Hahn, the lost guide of the Wheeler Party. The field glasses show a curious phenomena, the transparent substances used in used uniting the two pieces of the object lenses having formed into an almost perfect representation of desert shrubbery. The pair of glasses were kept by the senior of the Independent until their destruction by fire which destroyed his house in Bishop in 1900.

Inyo Register, May 13, 1909
“OMIE I. MAIRS DEAD.”
Summary: O.I. Mairs died in Los Angeles. He came to Inyo County during the palmy days of Cerro Gordo. Teamed in that and other mining camps for several years. Mr. Mairs opened business in Independence before the big fire that swept town in 1885. He built the Norman House. Failing health led him to move to Los Angeles. He married Miss Laura Flowers in 1875, who had come from her Maryland home to visit her uncle, John A. Lank. Mrs. Mairs survives her husband. Children are Norman J. Mairs; A.P. Mairs, who is now county Treasurer; J.P. Mairs; Howard Mairs and Miss Nellie Mairs.

Inyo Register, May 27, 1909
“AN ACTIVE CITIZEN GONE: A.S. KILPATRICK SUCCUMBS TO INSIDIOUS AFFLICTION.”
Summary: A.S. Kilpatrick died at his home in Bishop after months of illness with cancer. Funeral occurred at the Winedumah Lodge in Independence. He was also a member of the Mount Whitney Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. Kilpatrick was also a Knight, a Templar and a Shriner. His full name was Alexander Sanderson Kilpatrick. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1842. He worked in a foundry and printing press in his native city as a youth. When he was 20 or 21 years old he came to New York. He traveled westward a few years later. He was also in White Pine, Nevada during the boom. He was also in Bodie in the best days and he and a partner owned the Bodie Foundry. From there he went to Sweetwater, Nevada, where he engaged in mining. About 15 years ago he and his family came to Bishop, he buying the flouring mills. And he was active with that until last year. He was also one of the original promoters and owners of the Bishop Light & Power Company. Surviving him are his wife. His son A.F. Kilpatrick. A daughter Genevieve.

Inyo Register, July 15, 1909
“THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO.”
(from the Inyo Independent, July 12, 1873)
Summary: William Callahan, a farmer from George’s Creek, aged 29, was killed in Mazourka Canyon due to a kick from his horse.

1952

Inyo Register, January 3, 1952
“ICE COVERED ROADS BLAMED IN ACCIDENTS.”
“INDEPENDENCE – Icy roads over last weekend were blamed for one headon crash of cars in Mono county and for the overturn of another car, south of Bishop.
Last Thursday, about 4:10 p.m., a 1951 Chevrolet coupe being driven south by Lewis H. Walker, of Reno, and a 1952 Dodge sedan being driven north by Ronald A. Hudson, of Herlong, Calif., hit headon on an icy curve less than a mile south of Tom's Place. Both drivers and Doris Hudson received minor injuries in the crash.
According to highway patrol report of the accident, the Walker car struck the left front of the Hudson car as both were rounding the curve. Investigation showed that the curve was covered with rough ice and that apparently the Walker car went into an uncontrolled skid. Neither driver was held.
Sunday evening, Dan Jund, 64, of Independence, turned over in his 1940 Chevrolet sedan about one mile south of Bishop. The car broadsided on the slick pavement before overturning on the left side of the highway. He was not hurt.”

2000

Inyo Register, September 9, 2000
Summary: Death of famous naturalist Mary DeDecker, September 5, 2000.

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Page Revised: 08/05/2008